Military Science Curriculum

Military Science (MILS)

Students are introduced to the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership. Students will learn how the personal development of life skills such as goal setting, time management, physical fitness, and stress management relate to leadership, officership, and the Army profession. The focus is on developing basic knowledge and comprehension of Army leadership dimensions, attributes and core leader competencies while gaining a big picture understanding of the history, mission, roles and organization of ROTC, its purpose in the Army, and its advantages for the student.

Students are introduced to the Army leadership doctrine and styles of leadership. This course establishes the foundation of basic leadership fundamentals such as problem solving, communications, briefings, effective writing, techniques for improving listening and speaking skills and professional ethics. In addition, students will be introduced to safety and risk assessment and the primary weapon system (M16A2) of the U.S. Army.

Students will explore the dimensions of creative and innovative tactical leadership strategies and styles by examining team dynamics and two historical leadership theories that form the basis of the Army leadership framework. Aspects of personal motivation and team building are practiced planning, executing and assessing team exercises. The focus continues to build on developing knowledge of the leadership attributes and core leader competencies through the understanding of Army rank, structure, and duties as well as broadening knowledge of land navigation and squad tactics.

Students learn the individual and team aspects of military tactics, to include troop leading procedures, principals of offensive/defensive operations that involve the application of Army leadership and management techniques at the small unit level through various methods of influencing actions. Students examine communication in settings and achieving goals, the importance of timely decision making and creativity in the problem solving process.

Prerequisite: Approval of the Professor of Military Science
An intense summer program conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky for four (4) weeks. Designed as an alternative method to meet the prerequisites of the advanced course to students who have had no basic or core military science instruction. Training focuses on leadership development in a coaching, teaching and mentoring environment. Students receive funded travel, $25.48 per day and University credit for attendance/participation.

Students will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Army leadership, Officership, Army values and ethics, personal development, and small unit tactics at the team and squad level. Students conduct self-assessment of leadership style, develop personal fitness regimen and learn to plan and conduct individual/small unit tactical training while testing reasoning and problem solving techniques. Students receive direct feedback through counseling, coaching and encouragement from their peers and experienced cadre on their leadership style.

This is an academically challenging course were you will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Army leadership, Officership, Army values and ethics, personal development, and small unit tactics at the team and squad level. Students examine the role communications, values and ethics play in effective leadership. Topics include ethical decision making, consideration of others, spirituality in the military and improvement of oral and written communication abilities. Classroom subjects continue to reinforce the Army leader attributes and core competencies, leadership styles, motivation and counseling techniques and small unit defensive operations.

This course is a practical application of adaptive leadership. Students are assigned the duties and responsibilities of an Army staff officer and must apply the fundamentals of principles of training, training management, the Army writing style, and military decision making to weekly training meetings. Students will study how Army values and leader ethics are applied in the Contemporary Operating Environment and how these values and ethics are relevant to everyday life. The student will study the Army officer’s role in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the counseling of subordinates, administrative actions and the management of an Army Officer’s career. Students will be given numerous opportunities to train, mentor and evaluate underclass students enrolled in the ROTC Basic Course while being mentored and evaluated by experienced ROTC cadre.

Senior Cadets, in this capstone course, explore the dynamics of leading in the complex situations of current military operations in the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE). Cadets examine differences in customs and courtesies, military law, principles of war, and rules of engagement in the face of international terrorism. Cadets will also explore aspects of interacting with non-government organizations, civilians on the battlefield, and host nation support. The course places significant emphasis on preparing you for BOLC-B (Officer Branch Technical Training) W and your first unit of assignment. It uses case studies, scenarios, and “What Now, Lieutenant?” exercises to prepare you to face the complex ethical and practical demands of leading as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.